Pedestrian safety initiatives eyed for City Hall area

Residents ask for safer crossings

PICKERING -- Councillors are debating how best to improve pedestrian safety in the area surrounding City Hall after complaints from several residents.

At an executive committee meeting on Dec. 3 councillors debated a staff report looking at options to improve pedestrian safety. Councillor David Pickles had requested the information after complaints from several residents of condo towers along the Esplanade North and Valley Farm Road.

Although suggestions for pedestrian crosswalks at either the Avonmore Square or Esplanade North intersections with Valley Farm Road and on Glenanna Road at the Esplanade North were not supported in the report, staff did recommend installing a four-way traffic signal at Valley Farm and the Esplanade South, which would replace the existing pedestrian crossing signal.

Chuck Kent, president of Durham Condominium Corporation 93, told council a traffic signal would help alleviate residents' concerns.

"We're in full support of this proposal, we've been talking about it within our group of condominiums, about the extremely unsafe corner due to that light, I know I've experienced near misses there," he explained, noting he would also like to see the idea of crosswalks given more support.

"Along with that discussion about safety within the community, we are trying to put forward the idea of the crosswalk within Valley Farm. I thought due to the number of seniors crossing in that location, it might be a wise idea. It's not just seniors, everyone's safety is at risk."

Councillors amended the motion to exclude the option for a full signal at Valley Farm and the Esplanade South, instead voting to request staff to install a pedestrian crosswalk at the Esplanade North and Glenanna Road.

"I'm hearing this is a safety issue," said Coun. Doug Dickerson, who tabled the crosswalk option.

"I don't think a full signalization would make the intersection any safer that what's there now, if people can't understand a pedestrian light they're not going to pay attention to a full signal. I think an additional crosswalk is needed."

Councillors voted to support the recommendation, which will come before council for a final vote on Dec. 10. Coun. Pickles plans to bring the option to signalize the existing crosswalk back for consideration at that time.

"The issue is we have a pedestrian signal there now and that gives a red to oncoming traffic, but a lot of people are confused because it's not a four-way stop," Coun. Pickles explained.

"When people are confused you get more accidents, so I'd still like to see a full signal there for safety reasons."